Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-07-13
WHAT ONE WOMAN DID.

"That wheat'sa purity sight, isn't it.,
Mary Ann 2 Jest as even as g. new
hair brush and headed out tip top.
Must be cut this week"
John Brown looked admiringly on
his golden wheat field as he spoke
those words, sitting on rude bench
on the shady side of the log cabin he
called home. 1t was q lovely Sab
baSh in August, the sharp monoto-
nous cry of "Peace /! Peace !" from
untold numbers of crickets, the only
sound to break the Sabbath stiffness
which brooded over the landscape.
1t was no widespread expanse OF
wheat6eld which caused Johns hon
est heart to thrill with pride and sat
isfaction at his successful crop. Not
on q western prairie, but on q rugged
New England hillside was the little
home, and the wheat field so tendely
cherished was less than an acre,
which had been reclaimed from the
wilderness by an ak welded by Johns
strong arms, while here and there the
bIackened stumps Of the trees stood
as scars of the battle. But the wheat
grow luxuriantly on the rich, new
land, and John had reason to be
proud of it. His wife sat by his side
that Sabbath afternoon, and with
him admired the wheat field turning
from green to gold. She was one OF
those practical farmers wives who
take as much interest in the crops
and stock and all farming matters as
do their husbands, and it was well
for John Brown that this was the
case. For John was one OF those
clever, happy-go-lucky individuals
whom New Englanders denominate as
F'shiftIess," and but for Mary AIMS
faculty for picking up loose ends
which he continually dropped, he
would often have Jared hard.
Monday morning John announced
his plan for cutting the wheat, IN this
wise:
Pm 9. goin' over ter cousin Jo-
tham's to-day, and git him ter change
works with me a narvestin'. Git him
and his boy in TO help me, and we'd
have that wheat all cut and stocked
before you could think Of it.
NOV, john" said his wife, sus-
pending her work over the scrub
board Cor O. moment, "what's the use
OF YOUR eittin' help to cut that little
batch OF wheat You can do it
alone If you only think So"
EsI'spose I could, but I like ter
change works-it's more sociable-lke.
When we were first married you used
ter help me cut the grain, Mary Ann,
but you've enough else to do now"
John was a Kind husband in his
way, If he was easy going.
Mrs. Brown was English born and
raised, and had been brought up to
WELD the sickle in the grain field. AS
ner husband had said, in their early
welded life she was his help in har-
vest time. She Was one of those lit
tie, why women who have a great
deal Of endurance for one OF their size,
and she enjoyed the out ot-door work
to which she had been brought up.
But since the cabin had been filling
up with little curly heads, one after
another, until now there were SIX OF
them, John rightfully thought that
his wife had enough to do indoors.
It Was well along in the afternoon
when John returned from his unsuc-
cessfuI errand. Jotham didn't want
to change works, but that didn't
seem TO trouble John much, SO en-
crossed was ne in another project.
Been navin' the greatest times
with bears over IN Jotham's neigh
oorhood," he said. "JoJham's lost q
sheep and several lambs, and other
folks have been losin' critters. Some
think they've seen bears, and they We
sarUin seen their tracks. | know it's
bear's work. [ went up into the
woods beyond Jotham's a mile or so.
to a kind o'swampy place and there
was lots o bears tracks. Ihey re
agoin' TO git up a bear hunt to-mor
rar, and | agreed TO come with ouI
old dog. Rings the best bear dog II
tnese parts, and they'll all want me
To come over with him. I'll bring
home bear meat enough ter last 8
week. =
eyer know never eat it, John,
said Mary Ann.
ssJesu cause you spleen ag'inst 1t
I like it fust rate, and the childr6r
eat it. Wal, I'm going to-morrer.
John Brown was IN his element II
q hear hunt, and he went Of Tuesday
morning early with old Ring, ane
spent an exciting day, but never
bear did they see, much less shoot
So John brought home no bear meat
He was too tired on Wednesday te
do anything now to the fully rip'
grain, but that night he unfolded an
other plan.
s'T'm agoin' over TO the east settle
mert to-morrer, and git Ezra Spinne1
ter come and cradle the wheat for me
He's got a cradle, and it does lot
swifter work than q sickle. He cal
cradle, and bind it, and it won
take long"
seRattar STAY at home to.morre